Carnegie Museum of Natural History

One of the Four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh

Homeschool Classes

children visiting the museum for a homeschool class

Explore the natural world in Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s homeschool classes. Students ages 5-18 from the local homeschool community can attend sessions designed to complement homeschool science curriculums and make homeschooling more convenient, interactive, and engaging for your family.

Life on the Nile

Ages 5-7
Meets on Mondays: March 30, April 6, 13, 20, 27
Class times: 1-3:30 p.m.
Last day to register is Monday, March 23, 2020

Navigate the Nile to discover what life was like in ancient Egypt. Learn about the role of animals in Egyptian life and lore. Make a splash with hands-on activities, and investigate the importance of rivers. Watch the mysteries of mummification unfold through dehydration experiments with fruits and vegetables. Observe live insects and see how they measure up to the mystical ancient scarab.

Planet Protection Agency

Ages 8-10
Meets on Mondays: March 30, April 6, 13, 20, 27
Class times: 1-3:30 p.m.
Last day to register is Monday, March 23, 2020

Explore ecology and discover ways to protect the Earth. Learn about the water cycle and how acid rain affects soil and plants. Investigate creative ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle materials and why it’s important for the planet. Take a tour through the museum to learn about endangered and extinct species, and make a mini greenhouse to take home.

Micromania

Ages 11-13
Meets on Mondays: March 30, April 6, 13, 20, 27
Class times: 1-3:30 p.m.
Last day to register is Monday, March 23, 2020

With cutting edge technology in your grasp, there is more to nature that meets the eye. Use high resolution photography to explore amazing details of insects. Cultivate microbes and molds, and learn about the amazing powers of the scanning electron microscope. Learn how to collect field specimens and hunt for microorganisms. Visualize DNA with cellular staining and gel electrophoresis, techniques that molecular biologists use to uncover biological patterns in minute detail.

Environmental Science III- Human Impacts and Solutions

Ages 14-18
Meets on Mondays: March 30, April 6, 13, 20, 27
Class times: 1-3:30 p.m.
Last day to register is Monday, March 23, 2020

This is the final class in this year’s three-part Environmental Science series. This session focuses on human impact on the environment while delving into solutions for the future. Analyze human-made environmental problems and discover the next steps to create renewable energy sources. Examine the clean water crisis and build strategies to keep our waterways clean. Using a future-thinking approach, explore practical strategies that will help achieve sustainable systems.

Enrollment in all three sections is not required, but students who complete all three parts of the series will receive a certificate of achievement.

Refund Policy

For multi-session classes, full refund less $10 handling fee for withdrawals made at least one week before program begins. Withdrawals made less than one week before the program starts, but before the second class session, are subject to a fee of $10 plus the pro-rated cost of a single class. No refunds after the second class has met.

Inclement Weather Policy

For children’s programs scheduled to occur December through March, the following inclement weather policy will be used: Should hazardous conditions result in cancellation of classes, announcements will be made on television stations KDKA, WTAE, WPXI, and FOX. Decisions are based on the needs of all students and instructors, some of whom drive considerable distances to Oakland. Makeup days may be scheduled for missed classes. During any inclement weather, please use your own discretion to attend for your own safety and that of your student.